Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-18
GAS In MANCHESTER.
oBDIEhEcE ADOPTED GRANTING THE
COMPANY CERTAIN YRANCHIs7s.
Plant 10 Cost $3.50, ,oOo-Gas Expected
to be Burning Hext Sum-
mer, &c.

their names: Messrs. G. 4. Jones, Il. 4.
Faulconer, William Welsh, Richard Har-
ris, George i. Hewlett, Z. W. Weisiger,
John O'BrieD, end James +. Bradley.
There were also present Mcssrs. Leroy
T.. Brown, Willie Deshiell, Harry b.
Owen, and others OF the gas company's
board of directors.
TIE GAS PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Bradley said the only business
before the Council was the gas PROPOSE
ton.
City-Atlorney William ]. Clopton was
asked to read the ordnance, as he had
been requested TO examine it and criti-
else Il. Before reading Judge Clopton
stated that on Wednesday Messrs. Per-
due and Bradley called his attention to
sections and OF the ordinance. These
he had slightly modified.
MIR. BRADLEY OPPOSES.
When Judge Clopton had finished
reading the paper Mr.. Bradley said ne
desired the matter referred to the City
Attorney and action on it deferred for
one week. Here was an ordinance pre-
sentod by these gentlemen, and but two
sections had been referred to or
considered by the City Attorney.
His (Bradlcy'0 idea was that the com
mittee should more thoroughly consider
this ordinance and ihat the City Attcr-
ney should prepare on ordinance en-
bo1ying the views OF the committee and
offer this t. these gentlemen on the part
OF the city. 2ir. Bradley moved that
the matter be recomniited to the COM
mittee, and that the Council adjourn for
one week.
WHERE p.PES SHALL Dc.
Mr. Welsh asked Judge Clopton il he
did not think the city safely guarded IN
every particular under this ordinance.
Judge Clopton replied that he thought
from the examination Of The paper made
by him that the citvs interest was pro
toctcd in most respects. blr. Ncislger
had suggested TO him that the ordinance
ought to be made to provide thst When-
ever the city or its citizens yans pipe
it shall be laid.
ilr. Brown said they were wiling to
accent this. The ordinance already con-
tanned provision that wheneyera citizen
living at any distance from main de-
sircs gas be can have the pipe laid TO his
residence, provided he i willing to pay
10 percent. ON the expense Of layIng the
pipe until the vacant space is sufficiently
butt up for the consumption * gas TO
pay H. per cent. on this cost.
Mr.. Bradley was utterly opposed to
this section. II would insUre the wealth
of the company and would make gas
light most expensive to suburban citi-
zeus.
Mr.. Faulcoucr, Mr.. Welsh, and others
were in iayoroi the adoption OF the Ordi-
nance as it stood.
LXrCUTIvE srssIOS.
Mr.. Jones moved that all persons
present not members Of the Council re-
tire and that the Council resolve itself
into executive session and consider the
question. After q lengthy informal dis
cussion between members Of the Council
and representatives Of the company this
motion vas put and carried, ana the
Council sat for quarter OF al hour with
closed doors.
WHAT THEY DID.
When the doors were reOpcned Judge
Clopton s.atcdthat thc body i'll executive
session had decided 10 accept the ordi-
nance with two chan@cs-one providing
that the company shall lay mains and
pipes on whatever streets the Council
may direct the other was reducing the
amount of security to bc required of any
company desiring TO compete with this
one from So, 900 TO $4,000. Mr.
Brown had suggested $2j.C10. BE did
this 50 that only b>HQ-d6c companies
and not enemies or adyonturcrs would
offer
Mr. Brown was unwilling to accept the
first change unless the city agreed 10
take two lights for each square along
which a main or pipe is required TO be
laid.
\ lengthy discussion ensued, and nu-
merous changes were suggested, all OF
which ended in smoke.
\ CoNPRO,nsF.
NIr. Brown finally lageested Us a COM
promise measure that both the Glih and
seventh sec.ions-one relating to the
suburban residents, the other allowing
the city to sag on what streets pipes shall
he laid-be eliminated.
Judge Clopton, in answer TO cues
ton asked by Air. Welsh. said that with
these sections stricken out, in his opin-
ion the city would have decidedly the
advantage. as he construed the third see
ton as giving the Council the right to
require the company to furnish gas all
over the city.
Here was another hitch. Mr.. brown
had not thus construed this section, and
with this light he, after consulting the
other directors present, was not wiling
to accept it.
ADOPTED.
Mr. Brown suggested n slight change
in the third section, which left it 70 the
choice OF the company where the pipe
shall be laid This WAS accepted, and
the ordinance was adopted es a whole.
Mr. Welsh moved that the cOmpsny be
exempted from taxation for five years.
Alr. Faulkner seconded the motion.
Mr.. Jones was opposed to the propo-
sition. II was time enough to grant ex-
emption when it was asked. The elec-
tic light had not been exempted. aud
this enterprise should not be until the
light is shown AID its workings tested.
After further discussion the Council
adjourned, the Chair ruling that this
question could not he voted on, the
meeting having been called 10 consider
the ordinance which had been adopted.
Mr.. Blown stated that while they had
made no application for exemption Mr.
j. Thompson Brown hal expected il
and had held this out as one Of the IN
ducements to get his friends to come to
Manchester. The general feeling seemed
to be that if the company gives 2 good
LIGHT it will be exempted for certainly
five years if not for longer period.
THE ORDINANCE.
The ordinance as adopted provides
that work shall begin ON theplant within
sixty duys after o charter under the laws
of the State has been obtained. and that
1t shah be completed and the gas be
burning witliis eighteen months. The
sic OF The works is to be selected
within thirty days. Light is TO be
furnished the city at not more
than sovcn.y-hyc cents per 1000 cubic